VIC Apartment letterbox lock broke - who pays?

Got a bill from my agent for $220 to pay for a locksmith to fix the lock. I wasn't sure who should be responsible, does anyone know what the rules are?

 

From your strata agent?

Are mailboxes common property in the strata scheme? If common property strata should pay.

 

$220. Is the key solid gold or just sterling silver ?

 

Check with strata.

Since that mail box is for the exclusive use of your apartment, you may be liable.
Marg

 

Depends on your states strata legislation. I have yet to see any CMS where each letterbox is actually designated as Exclusive Use Area (EUA) per Lot and therefor is classed as part of the common property, however in Qld for example, under the BCCM Act there are provisions for parts of the common property which only one Lot enjoys the benefit of become responsible for it. In my scheme, we have a basic rule of thumb that if any part of the mailbox is maintenance or vandal-related the Body Corporate pays, but if the Occupier has simply lost or damaged the key then the Lot pays.

 

I agree with @Michael Mitchell - who's responsible for the replacement of all of the mailboxes if they are no longer suitable/don't meet Australia Post's standards? (Strata).

 

If it is each landlord's responsibility, would I expect this to be noted somewhere central? I'm hoping I don't have to go trawling through years of meeting minutes to find evidence of this. I should be able to just ask for documented evidence right?

 

You have to trust some level of governance - or go through the transactions yourself.

though you seem to get that there is no difference if it is you pay or the strata pays - as long as it consistently applied